Prospective Students
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The School of Economics and Finance PhD: Overview
The award of a PhD is the highest academic qualification. By joining the School of Economics and Finance in St. Andrews you will become a member of one of the oldest and most prestigious Universities in the UK, joining a thriving research environment. Our faculty members are top quality economists who publish in the best academic journals, act as consultant to the Government, and sit on the editorial board of the major academic publications. We will expect your PhD thesis to push the boundaries of knowledge in your chosen research field.
Entry: two routes
There are two routes for PhD entry, depending on which of the following applies to you:
- I have an MSc: Holders of an MSc in Economics or related disciplines from a recognised University can apply directly for PhD. Normally we do not consider applications for those students whose average in less than 65% in the modules and dissertation.
- I do not have an MSc: Students who do not hold an MSc degree may register for either the MSc Economics, MSc MBF, MSc in Finance, or the MSc in ISE offered by the School as the first year of a Ph.D. programme. Transition to the Ph.D. programme is subject to satisfactory performance in the M.Sc. degree. The compulsory summer dissertation may form the first step towards the development of a Ph.D. research topic.
Supervision
The breadth of the School’s research expertise offers a wide range of opportunities for those wishing to embark on a programme of doctoral research. Close collaboration between individual research staff and a number of governmental and non-governmental agencies provides further opportunities for those wishing to undertake collaborative research with these organisations. Research degrees normally require three to four years of full time study. In their first year students take taught courses appropriate to their area of study and start their research topic. In subsequent years students concentrate on writing their thesis.
Studying for a PhD is a very challenging enterprise: we want to make sure you can get the most out of it! So please do take your time to browse through our pages, and if there is any question you still have, just ask. You can get in touch with either the Director of Postgraduate Studies, or the Postgraduate secretary; and above all feel free to nag our current PhD students.